A nurse is caring for a patient immediately following endotracheal intubation.
Which of the following actions should the nurse prioritize to assess the patient for complications?
Auscultate lungs for the presence of breath sounds.
Determine that the pulse oximetry is greater than 95%.
Assess baseline level of consciousness.
Assess for the presence of circumoral cyanosis.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale
Auscultating the lungs for the presence of breath sounds is a priority action following endotracheal intubation. This helps to confirm correct tube placement and assess for complications such as a pneumothorax.
Choice B rationale
While it is important to ensure that the pulse oximetry is greater than 95% to confirm adequate oxygenation, this is not the priority action. The nurse should first confirm correct tube placement by auscultating lung sounds.
Choice C rationale
Assessing the baseline level of consciousness is important, but it is not the priority action following endotracheal intubation.
Choice D rationale
Assessing for the presence of circumoral cyanosis can indicate hypoxia, but it is not the priority action. The nurse should first confirm correct tube placement by auscultating lung sounds.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
A chocolate milkshake may be soothing, but it is not the best choice for a patient with bacterial pharyngitis due to its high sugar content, which can promote bacterial growth.
Choice B rationale
Chicken noodle soup is a good choice as it is soothing, easy to swallow, and provides necessary nutrients.
Choice C rationale
Vanilla ice cream, while soothing, is not the best choice due to its high sugar content.
Choice D rationale
Fruit-flavored popsicles, while soothing, are not the best choice due to their high sugar content.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Reporting the absence of spontaneous respirations is important, but it is not the priority action. The patient is on mechanical ventilation, so the absence of spontaneous respirations is expected.
Choice B rationale
Encouraging the patient to attempt to breathe on their own is not the priority action. The patient is receiving mechanical ventilation, which means they are likely unable to breathe adequately on their own.
Choice C rationale
Providing passive range-of-motion exercises is important for overall patient mobility and prevention of complications such as deep vein thrombosis, but it is not the priority action in this case.
Choice D rationale
Responding to ventilator alarms is the priority action. Alarms may indicate a change in the patient’s condition or a problem with the ventilator. Immediate response is necessary to ensure the patient’s safety.
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